Two
Roman had just placed a quick meal of grilled chicken salad with iced peach tea on the table when the doorbell rang.
Dean wondered if he should remain hidden but the kind man stopped him when he stood up immediately and tried to make a run for it to the bedroom. "No, it's okay," Roman said. "I think I know who it is."
The nurse made his way to open the door only to reveal a Caucasian woman standing in front, wearing the widest smile. "I was about to call you," she chuckled as she hugged Roman tight.
"You didn't tell me you were coming over," the grey eyed man told her with a warm smile. "I would have bought takeout."
Who was she? Dean puzzled. His mother? Aunt? Neighbor?
"Oh you didn't need to." Then her smile disappeared when she saw Dean standing near the kitchen entrance. "Hi." She turned to Roman. "I didn't know you had company."
Dean stiffened.
"Oh that's Dean." Roman headed for him and pulled him in front. "Dean, this is my mother, Patricia."
Oh shit. Now was definitely the time to run out the door. This day was not turning out the way he thought it would. He supposed get drunk, wake up and maybe head on down to the hotel-
"How are you, Dean?" Patricia greeted him. "My son didn't tell me he was seeing anyone. I'm so embarrassed-"
"Oh-" Dean started.
"Dean's my friend, Mum," Roman corrected her gently.
Friend? They just met. Roman was far too generous with him.
"Oh," his mother said. "I apologise, Dean, for the mistake."
This was starting to feel suffocating. He needed to get out of here. These people didn't need to get their lives interrupted because of his presence.
"No worries," Dean replied quickly. "Ummm Roman, I think I'll take a raincheck on that lunch. I gotta go-"
"No." Roman reached for his hand. "Stay."
This time, Dean felt the electricity - or the spark as he had heard people say before - at the touch. Upon glancing up at Roman's face, he could see that he had felt it too.
His eyes were staring into Dean's.
"Oh yes," Patricia added. "I only stopped by to drop Roman off some slices of my banoffee pie. He loves them." She quickly handed her son the box of pie. "Here you go, dear. Call me later."
"Sure, Mum."
Great. Now he felt bad that she was leaving so soon. All because of him.
But the look on Roman's face was anything but offended. He seemed good natured about her leaving. "Thanks for the pie, Mum." He kissed her on the cheek. "Enjoy your afternoon with Aunt Mia."
"Oh you know your aunt," his mother said. "She'll be all over the buffet."
Dean could tell that the raven haired man came from a good family. Or at the very least, a tight knit one. His mannerisms, behavior gave away a lot. "It was nice meeting you," the mechanic managed.
"Oh me too, dear," Patricia gushed before being steered to the door gently. "Bye."
"Bye," Roman bid before closing the door shut. "Sorry about that. She's very friendly, I assure you."
"You get that from her," Dean remarked.
Roman looked at him, surprised. Great. Should have probably shut his mouth- "That's very observant of you. Lots of people tell me that too. Come on. Let's eat. Then we can share this banoffee pie."
Why was he so damn nice? "Roman, you just met me. I could be a serial killer for all you know."
"No, you're not. I'm good at reading people."
"No one can tell if someone's a sociopath, Roman."
"Are you one, Dean?"
"I… no!"
Roman chuckled. "See?"
"You cheated."
"Nah. I know you're a good person. A little broken up inside but still a good person."
Wait a second… "What did you say?"
"I said you're a good-"
"No. You said I was broken inside."
"Well, yeah. Your eyes hold so much sadness, Dean."
Dean had never met anyone who cared enough to look at him for the person he was. People looked through him, not at him. Yet this gentle person - this beauty - was carrying a gaze filled with genuine concern.
Where had Roman been his entire life? Dean couldn't help but think that maybe having someone like that in his corner in his youth would have made his life a tad more bearable.
Would have changed how he saw the world.
"I… so uh your mum seems to think you need someone in your life," Dean said, changing the subject immediately. "I find it hard to believe a person like you is single."
"Why not? There's nothing special about me."
"Have you looked into a mirror?"
"Looks fade."
Jesus, this guy was a saint. "Well, you have a good character. I mean your mannerisms are a good indication of that."
"I dated here and there. My last boyfriend and I split up because he works for Unicef and had to be posted in Africa."
"Oh."
"He's still someone I consider a good friend though."
Said boyfriend would come back and resume their relationship. Same old love song too. Then he caught himself. Why the hell was he even thinking about Roman that way? "Oh."
"What about you?" Roman asked as they sat down at the dining table. "What do you do for a living?"
"I'm a mechanic," Dean answered. "I sometimes prostitute myself at the hotel downtown at Earl Street to make extra money."
If he had thought Roman would look at him in disgust, he was wrong. The man was looking at him with understanding. "Times are hard, huh?"
"Yeah. There's only so much a job as a mechanic can pay you. I make enough to survive working at that hotel."
"Which hotel?" Roman wanted to know.
Dean put his drink down. "Why?"
"Just curious."
"Hell's Inn."
Roman chewed thoughtfully on his chicken. "What days are you on?"
"It depends. Sometimes I work twice a week, sometimes twice a month."
"Do you use protection?"
Dean had to smile at the question. "Is that the nurse in you talking?"
"It's the friend in me actually."
"Roman, once again, we barely know one another-"
"Well, we are getting to know one another in a way, right?"
He had Dean there. "Yeah." Still the auburn haired man had to know. "Are you always this friendly with everyone?"
"Yeah."
So he wasn't that special. It was nice to feel as if he was for a moment.
"My birthday is coming up and I was wondering if you'd like to come?" Roman invited him.
"Me?" Dean repeated. No one except for Jeff and Matt invited him to things.
"Yeah. It's nothing fancy; just a small dinner with family and friends. I'll text you the address."
"I'm not-"
"I insist, Dean. I'd love for you to be there."
Fuck. How could a human being like this exist? He'd wager the ex boyfriend was a saint like him too. Unicef. Dean wouldn't be involved in anything like that even if a million dollar was tossed at him.
Once lunch was finished, Dean helped wash the dishes despite Roman's protests. "Thank you for your kindness, Roman," he expressed after putting away the clean plateware. Time was up. "I… uh… hope you'll have a happy birthday."
"But I'll see you at my celebration, right?" Roman asked, hopeful.
"Well… these aren't my kind of things to be honest. Sorry."
"I promise my family and friends are non judgemental."
"Oh, it's nothing like that. I don't do families and stuff. I tend to keep to myself most of the time. Well except for my friends, Jeff and Matt."
"You can invite your friends too."
Damn was he persistent. How could Dean put it to him mildly that he would never come back? He wasn't about to taint this angel's life. "I'll think about it," he said instead.
Roman seemed disappointed but he smiled. "Okay." Taking out a black pen from the drawer near his television console, he grabbed Dean's palm and wrote some digits on it. "This is me. I hope you'll call me."
Against his better judgement again, Dean grabbed Roman's palm and wrote his number on it. "This is me. Call me and I'll find a way to repay you back."
"I'm not looking for repayment. Like I said, I'm sure you would have done the same for anyone."
"You don't know me, Roman."
"I'd like to, Dean." Then he added, "I hope you give me the chance."
Saint Roman of Greenville. "Yeah, well…" Dean opened the door and walked out before turning around. "See you. I'll call you."
"You will?" Roman thrilled.
This guy was just a ray of sunshine. He was actually happy that a lowlife like him was going to call. "Uh yeah. Bye."
"See you soon!"
Fuck.
When Dean entered the elevator, he leaned against the wall.
Something told him it wasn't going to be easy to forget Roman.
Something told Roman that he was into something good as cliche as it sounded.
What a miracle to meet a man whom he felt a spark with upon touching his hand. Oh boy was Karl going to hear about this. Not even his first touch with Seth had him feeling this way.
There was more to Dean than met the eye.
He seemed war torn; as if he had seen so much tragedy in his life.
And throughout their conversation, he only smiled once. And that had hit Roman hard because a person like him had a beautiful smile. The man had dimples when he did; it was a lovely thing to see.
For some reason Roman could not understand, he was drawn to Dean; he wanted to see him more.
Maybe he was foolish to hope just because of that spark but Roman wanted to know him; wanted to know what he liked, disliked, what inspired him…
Wanted to bring some sunshine into his life.
Needed to see him smile again.
Why are you so sad, Dean? Roman wondered. Who hurt you so badly?
Darkness surrounded him everywhere.
Whether he was being fucked raw or simply lounging in his room, it was there like an old companion.
As he lied in bed and stared at the ceiling, his heart did a little flip at the thought of sunshine on legs.
Warm smile, tanned skin, gorgeous face…
Still a puzzle why anyone wanted to be kind to a stranger especially in a fucked up world like this.
Forget it, he thought.
The man was friendly by nature. Nothing special about this lowlife. Just a man with bitterness and sorrow.
A man who had no ambitions except to get fucked and live another day.
A man who would trample anyone who stood in his way.
Reaching for the cigarette, he remembered what Beauty had said: I hope you give me the chance.
A/N I humbly thank everyone of you darlings for the warm wishes and the comments. Also guest, you're back! :-)
